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48 hours in north London for a football fan

Britain is home to one of the most exciting football leagues in the world, the Premier League. In north London, you’ll find two football clubs with one of the fiercest rivalries in English football, Arsenal and Tottenham. Immerse yourself in north London football culture on this 2-day itinerary to experience the thrills of game day.

Day 1 of 2

Feed your excitement

You’re probably going to be in for a long day, this rivalry is legendary and you’re going to need all the energy you have to keep up on the day. Whether you’re wearing red or white you’ll either be celebrating throughout the day or trying to console yourself if your team loses another 3 points.

Kick off your day with a classic match day meal, a full English breakfast. The Workers Cafe serves 11 versions of the classic English breakfast including vegetarian options.

For something lighter, Fink’s Salt and Sweet has delicious toasties and Mediterranean-inspired sandwiches to keep you going.

Watch the game

It’s not always possible to find a ticket to the game, especially when it comes to the Premier League’s ‘big six’ teams as they are so popular. With Arsenal and Tottenham both being in the ‘big six’ this is no exception. However, that doesn’t matter as you can still experience the match day atmosphere by just being in north London on game day.

A great place to watch football is The Twelve Pins, a traditional London boozer popular with Arsenal fans. It has two big screens, serves top-notch pub grub and the passion of the Arsenal fans is electrifying. A short bus ride away is the Famous Cock Tavern serving tapas, pizzas and burgers to snack on during half-time.

Venturing over to the white side of north London you’ll find The Beehive, a large pub in the heart of Tottenham serving real ale and craft beer. Watch the match inside the pub or from the large beer garden. The Elbow Room is another great place to meet fellow fans, feel the tension and excitement of the game and cheer on the Lilly Whites!

Match day grub

Pies are a match day staple for football fans in Britain and where best to go than a pie restaurant that started as a match day stall located en-route to the Emirates Stadium.

Piebury Corner serves delicious handmade pies to suit all diets. If you normally play as a winger, try Bird in Islington which has a special match day menu whenever Arsenal play.

Cap off your evening with the Old Queen’s Head, a charming pub with a welcoming atmosphere. With live music, comedy and party nights your guaranteed a good night out. Mingle with locals at bar and music venue Styx near Tottenham Hale or if you prefer the acting that’s done off the pitch catch a show at the Bernie Grant Centre.

Day 2 of 2

See where all the action takes place

You’ve watched the match and now it’s time to check out where the beautiful game is played. Before you venture to the hallowed grounds get on the front foot with a tasty breakfast at Frank’s Canteen in Highbury. Slightly further afield is Craving Coffee serving specialist coffee and daytime cocktails (if you want to continue celebrating your team’s victory).

Stadium tour

Now it’s your chance to explore the Emirates Stadium, home of the world-famous Arsenal FC. As you’re guided around the iconic stadium, feel what it’s like for the players before a game as you take in the home team dressing room. Walk down the tunnel to the pitch and sit in the dugout as if you were the boss instructing your players on the field.

If you’re a Spurs fan, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to get behind the scenes of the brand new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (which even has its own microbrewery). In the meantime you can discover more about the history of Spurs and the area at the local Bruce Castle Museum.

The final whistle

North London has large Turkish community so before you head home, finish off your football weekend with a slap-up meal at Gökyüzü. With succulent charcoal-grilled meats and sharing platters, you’ll eat like a champion!

How to get here

Highbury & Islington is an 11-minute Tube journey from London Victoria while Tottenham Hale is 19 minutes away.